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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 3, Issue 3 (July 2, 1928)

Speeds and Brakes

Speeds and Brakes.

All gears and shafts run in oil on ball or roller bearings, and are totally enclosed. The gears are of the constant mesh type, engaging by dogs. Four speeds in both directions are provided, namely, 16 m.p.h. at normal engine revolutions page 27 on top gear; 8 m.p.h. on third, 4 m.p.h. on second; and 2-1-3 m.p.h. on low. Reverse is effected by a subsidiary gearbox placed between the clutch and main gearbox, giving direct drive through the box or reverse through intermediate gears. The drive is taken from the gearbox centre drive by cardan shafts with universal joints to both axles independently, which are of the full floating bevel type and are fitted with tapered roller bearings. Springs are of the laminated type, hardened in oil. The wheels are of 30in diameter on tread, and are of disc type with rolled steel tires. Two brakes are provided, one acting on a drum at the back of the gearbox and so through the transmission on all four wheels, the other being a screw-down hand-brake acting through brake-blocks on all four wheels. Sand boxes are fitted at each end and the petrol tank has a capacity of 17 gallons.

In order to enable the vehicle to be tested under working conditions, special temporary axles of standard (4ft 8 1/2 in) gauge were employed, with the full load on the chassis and a trailing load 1 1/4 tons in excess of what was specified. With this gross load, the vehicle climbed a gradient of 1 in 24 without difficulty at 18 miles per hour with the engine accelerating on the steepest part of the gradient. Moreover, the load was securely held on the gradient by the foot-brake alone.